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Wednesday, 11 March 2015

Day 112

I admit it, I have a prejudice.

A raging one.

And today, my 11 year old is having the day off school because of it.

I hate football. I hate everything about it and every different kind of it. I just don't get it. I don't get lots of things, I don't get why people don't immunise their children, I don't get why Tony Abbott is the Minister for Women, I don't get internet trolls. But most of all, I don't get football.

I hate the dominance of it here in Victoria. We hear of little else for 6 months of the year, and don't forget the 3 month pre-season and the 3 month post-season.

I hate the blokeyness of it. I hate the fact that every second news article is about some dopey footballer who is up on a physical assault charge, a sexual assault charge, a drink driving charge or is just getting off one thanks to Club-funded lawyers and a sharp suit.

I hate the booziness of it. The players and the spectators seem to be happiest wiping themselves out whether they're celebrating or commiserating. I abhore the culture of heavy drinking. It wasn't so long ago that the prize at the local footy club for the Under 16 Best and Fairest Player was a slab of beer. Really.

I hate the brutality of it. The deliberate elbow to the nose when someone is running past regardless of whether they have the ball or not type brutality. I hate the thought of long term damage of repeated knocks to the head, and all those doctors, surgeons and physios employed to patch up the insanity.

I hate the culture of disrespect towards women. How many workshops on 'changing attitudes' can clubs run in desperate responses to yet another inappropriate behaviour/tweet/photograph/criminal charge by a player/coach, before we all throw our hands in the air and say, 'Oh, for goodness sake! They don't need a jolly workshop, they need to go to prison.'

So, imagine my response when the note comes home that the whole class is off to an AFL Super Clinic. My little fellow who has never seen a game or touched a football can go along and hear all about how marvellous football is! From footballers themselves! Think of the role modelling! Oh, don't worry, I am thinking of it. He looked at me aghast when he gave me the permission slip. (Yes, I know, prejudices are highly contagious) and said, 'I don't have to go, do I Mum?' And I briefly wondered about my prejudices and my stereotypes and said, 'No mate, you don't have to go.' And we both smiled with the relief of it all.

Please understand that as a family we like exercise. We like bike riding and bushwalking and swimming and circus skills and cross country skiing and camping. Golly, if the Super Clinic was for triathlon, decathalon or highland dancing I would have signed him up in a wink. But it was for football. And as I may have mentioned, I don't like football. So instead his job today is to do his school project and cook his family dinner. And in doing so, I reckon he'll be his own best role model today.